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Catch Phrase| 跩(zhuǎi)

Writer:   | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2017-05-22

Meaning:

“跩” means to “wibble and wobble while walking,” in a gait that is reminiscent of a duck. In many dialects like those of Sichuan, Henan and Shaanxi, people use the character as an adjective to refer to those who are arrogant and often putting on airs. However, many netizens have mistaken a similar character “拽” for this one, which is actually pronounced as “zhuāi” or “zhuài.”

Example:

A: 小明怎么那么跩,一副不爱搭理人的样子。

Xiǎomíng zěnme nàme zhuǎi, yīfù bù ài dālǐ rén de yàngzi。

Why is Xiaoming so arrogant? It’s like he is above speaking to us.

B: 因为他觉得他老爸是大老板,我们都是穷小子。

Yīnwèi tā juédé tā lǎobà shì dà lǎobǎn, wǒmen dōu shì qióng xiǎozi。

Perhaps because he thinks his old man is a wealthy big boss and we are just moneyless small potatos.

(First editor: Debra Li)